seketika

Seketika is an Indonesian and Malay adverb meaning immediately, at once, or in an instant. It is used to indicate that something happens without delay or after a very short interval, often conveying a sense of suddenness rather than a long duration.

Etymology and form: the word is formed from the prefix se- attached to the root ketika, which means “time” or “moment.” The combination expresses immediacy or totality of a moment. The term is common in everyday speech as well as in formal writing, and it is widely understood across Indonesia and Malaysia.

Usage and nuance: seketika tends to emphasize the swift onset of an action rather than its persistence. It can modify verbs and, in phrases such as seketika itu juga, reinforce that something occurred at that very moment. In contrast to synonyms like segera (as soon as possible) or sebentar-sebentar (briefly), seketika carries a stronger sense of immediacy. It can also appear in literary or journalistic contexts to heighten dramatic effect.

Examples: Seketika ia berhenti berbicara. (He stopped speaking immediately.) Seketika itu juga, matahari terbit. (At that very moment, the sun rose.) Dalam percakapan, seketika sering dipasangkan dengan kata itu juga or saja to stress immediacy.

Regional usage and variants: seketika is used in both Indonesian and Malay varieties of the language. While close in meaning to sekajap or sekejap, seketika typically conveys a sharper sense of immediacy.

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